Love deeply

Isn’t it odd that Valentine’s Day is the only day of the year to where you’re obligated to love? Other than the typical “love stinks” crowd (who really don’t think such lies and are actually in need of love)

Honestly though, the whole “flowers, chocolates, promises you don’t intend to keep” bit is overrated if it isn’t love all around. Furthermore, love is way too big to be squished in a small 24hr day.

So, why then do we do the cute little cards, gifts, fancy dinners, and everything else with our husbands, boyfriends, friends, family, etc solely on this day? (If you do this more than once a year this does not apply to you..lol)

When’s the last time we loved, like I mean L O V E Ddeeper than the mirage of all the love money can buy?

When’s the last time you wrote a letter.. Hand written letter to someone whether it be a love letter or an encouraging reminder to a friend?

When’s the last time you paid more attention to the details of what someone’s desires were, to gift that to them on a random day and not just Valentine’s Day?

When’s the last time you actually did what you said you’d do, right when you said you’d do it for someone who asked.. Instead of putting it on the to-do list for later and wind up forgetting?

When’s the last time you loved deeply?

We as women thrive off love do we not? I mean all the small things totally matter: The encouraging words from our best friend, the fact that our spouse or bf noticed we did something different with our hair or makeup, the cute thoughtful gift that someone gave us simply because it reminded them of us, pure quality time without interruption of cell phones or whatever else, good conversation, etc.

All of that is love. But love is deeper still.

Remember that friend who may or may not have known they hurt you?

Remember that family member who said some things that weren’t the sweetest?

Remember your spouse who may have forgotten to take out the garbage again?

All these random issues and opportunities to love deeper rise up daily, but most of the time we allow ourselves to think selfishly and choose to be offended if WE aren’t the ones being loved deeply -after all “THEY did it” right? –

Trust me I am learning this along with you, but it wouldn’t leave my heart to write about today. I told the Lord I was unqualified for it, to which He replied, “Are you saying I don’t know what I’m doing?”

Before I said , “that’s not what I meant..” (I mean obviously Papa doesn’t hold onto offense) I knew what He meant.. In my feeling unqualified He already knew I would feel that way and yet He still put it on my heart to write about.. And chose to champion me in an area that isn’t doctorate degree sealed.

That love is deep.

In 1 Peter 4:8 it speaks of the benefits of such love,
“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”

I like how it reads in the message bible,
“Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it…”

As if your life depended on it. It’s funny because our life actually does depend on love, being loved, and loving.

Without it what is life?

People constantly beg for a cure in this world, for world peace, no more hatred, no more crime, no more disconnect, etc.

Every single being living on this earth needs one vital thing above food and breath to stay alive, LOVE.

This isn’t some feel good, candy coated rainbows type of message, because when you truly love deep you notice it takes a sacrifice of some kind. Sometimes, it does hurt because love on the other end may not be going through the same filter we have, in which it couldn’t be reciprocated.. But that’s not why we love.

“We love because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:19

We can’t sit here in a judge seat with the huge oversized robe and point out who is worthy of our love and who isn’t. That judge seat isn’t ours and clearly the robe isn’t either.

If we wanted people to get what they deserve (completely outside of justice-consequences do come with action/sin-) after hurting us or whatever have you… Then when we, being human, sometimes fail someone, we would get what we deserved… Or worse.. If we got what we deserved before Jesus.

If we cried out to God about the fact that so and so being undeserving of goods or love, I’m certain He isn’t agreeing with you. Possibly He would ask, “I presume then you’d like what you deserve?”

Ouch. He wouldn’t be talking about a cute fluffy stuffed animal or feel good words of affirmation either.

Love isn’t selfish. (1 Corinthians 13:5)

Want a beautiful life where everyone gets along and there’s no drama or anything negative in your little corner of the world? It’s going to cost you something..

You’re going to have to be willing to love..deeply.

Ponder on it all. Write down ideas of what loving deeply may look like to Papa, better yet, ask Him what it would look like for ::insert your name here:: to love deeply -to be more personal.

We were made by love, from love, and for love. Every single one of us.

Fact: I have a reminder on my phone that goes off daily around 1pm and it asks this, “Are you loving well today?”
– most days I can answer that I am, and then some days pop up where I dislike that I put that in my phone period because it’s hard in the moment. But I did it so I could challenge myself in this. I desire to leave this world with my love as my legacy. I have yet to be able to say this is me 100% of the time but my desire is there. The gentle reminder helps me a lot. If something like this would work for you.. Go for it!

Great heroines were known for their love of something.. My favorite though is Mother Teresa. She fully embodied what it looked like to love deeply. Look up some of her quotes, read a story about her life, it’s incredible. She’s my favorite because it shows me it’s possible to love that much, and has fueled my desire to go after it.

So great heroine, what’s it gonna be?

Papa, thank you for first loving us. For choosing us before the world was ever created, for the ultimate price you paid just so you could have us near. Even the sprinkle of love that we are discovering is overwhelming. I pray Papa that we would honor you in this, that we too would take after you and love deeply, courageously and furiously. Help us to know what that looks like in each of us individually, and spark the desire to do so. We love because you first loved us, may we not forget that gift. Thank you Abba, in Jesus name amen.